Smart Parts, Inc.

Rod Perry

William M Gardner, Jr

A paintball gun according to this invention comprises a pressure regulator, an electronic solenoid valve, a firing valve assembly, a pneumatic ram assembly, and a firing chamber. The pressure regulator is configured to provide low pressure gas to a solenoid valve to control loading and firing operations of the paintball gun. The pressure regulator is further configured to supply low pressure gas to the firing chamber via operation of the firing valve assembly during a firing operation. The firing valve assembly can be configured with an opening, a valve chamber, and an exit port in fluid communication with the firing chamber, each having a size sufficient to allow an appropriate volume of gas flow to be supplied to the firing chamber with no significant drop-off in pressure. The firing valve assembly can also be provided with an o-ring seated around the valve cap to provide sensitivity to the firing valve, allowing it to open and close quickly in order to ensure near instantaneous shutoff with minimal load. The firing valve assembly is opened by the operation of the pneumatic ram assembly during a firing operation. The pneumatic ram assembly may also be connected to a bolt assembly via a mechanical assembly to perform a loading operation.

Low pressure electrically operated pneumatic paintball gun

An on/off valve for a paintball gun comprises a valve body. The valve body includes a gas inlet to receive a gas from a compressed gas source and a gas outlet to transmit the gas to the paintball gun The valve body also contains a plug cavity for receivingly engaging a plug. The plug includes a flow aperture for transmitting the gas from the inlet aperture to the outlet aperture. An actuator controls the plug position and, hence, a supply of gas through the flow aperture. An o-ring is seated within an exit port of the gas inlet in contact with the valve body and the plug. In operation, the gas has a pressure that exerts a force on the o-ring to maintain it in a sealing engagement with the plug. Movement of the actuator between an &ldquo;oi&rdquo; position and an &ldquo;off&rdquo; position opens and closes the on/off valve. In an open position, the flow aperture is positioned in communication with the inlet aperture and permits a flow of gas from the inlet aperture to the outlet aperture. Conversely, in a closed position, gas flow between the gas inlet and the gas outlet is prevented. Rotation of the plug does not substantially move the o-ring relative to the valve body.

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Greenburg, PA, United States of America

Rod Perry